Hurricane Resources

Before, during, and after a storm, it is critical to stay alert and prepared for any possible developments in Central Florida. Households should develop a plan and establish multiple ways to receive emergency alerts.

Hurricane milton updates

SNAP FOOD REPLACEMENT

SNAP recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Milton can apply for food replacement. To apply, individuals must:

• Be a current SNAP recipient
• Complete the form by October 19, 2024.
• Households are required to provide verification of having a power outage of 4 or more hours or damage that caused food loss to their MYACCESS Account, except for households located in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, and Volusia.
• For households in the following counties, complete the online replacement form and upload supporting verification of food loss to your MyACCESS Portal using “Other” as the document type.
  • Brevard, Clay, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Sumter.

Orange & Polk residents apply here. 

Osceola residents apply here (en español).

MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION

The Biden-Harris Administration approved a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Milton. Residents & business owners in Osceola, Orange, and Polk are eligible for assistance. Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov.

If you need help with your application, call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362

BEFORE/DURING A HURRICANE

Develop Your Emergency Strategy

It is paramount that everyone within your household is well-informed about your hurricane preparedness plan.

Remember to integrate your workplace, your children's daycare, and any other frequented locations into your comprehensive hurricane strategy. Moreover, it's vital for businesses to establish continuity plans to ensure operations can persist in the face of disaster. Make sure to include your pets in any emergency preparation plans.

Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes for more. 

Identify Your Evacuation Zone

For residents residing within evacuation zones, swift evacuation might become necessary during a hurricane.

Take the time to learn the closest designated evacuation routes, rehearse evacuation procedures with your family and pets, and establish a clear plan for shelter arrangements.

Stay Informed with Official Guidelines

Stay attuned to the advice and directives issued by local emergency management authorities, who collaborate closely with state, local, and federal agencies.

These professionals will supply the most up-to-date recommendations, considering the specific threat posed to your community, along with appropriate safety precautions.

Osceola: Sign up for Alert Osceola online or by texting ALERTOsceola to 888777. This system provides you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.

Orange: For additional insights on storm preparedness and to register for OC Alert, the county's emergency notification system, please visit ocfl.net/storm.

Polk: Sign up for Alert Polk at AlertPolk.com. During situations that may affect the health, safety, and welfare of Polk County residents, designated officials send out messages to telephone numbers and email addresses within the affected geographic area. 

Stay Alert to Warnings and Notifications

It's essential to establish multiple means of receiving emergency alerts. Download the FEMA App to receive instant updates from the National Weather Service.

Furthermore, sign up for community alerts specific to your area and familiarize yourself with the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), both of which do not require sign-up.

MUST-HAVES FOR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

• Comprehensive guide and supply checklist: floridadisaster.org and NOAA 

• Red Cross Emergency App: Download here

• FEMA App: locate and get directions to open shelters across the state, and receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service. Download here

• FPL customers can stay informed by downloading the FPL app by texting the word “App” to MyFPL (69375)

SHELTER INFORMATION

Do not proceed to any shelter until you have confirmed that it is open and operating.

• Osceola County

• Orange County

• Polk County

KEEP UP WITH ALERTS

• National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov

• Osceola: Alert Osceola

• Orange: OCAlert.net

• Polk: AlertPolk.com

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

• Call 911 for any emergency 

• State of Florida Emergency Information 24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-342-3557

OSCEOLA COUNTY

• Osceola County Emergency Management  

  • Phone: (407) 742-9000

  • Email: emdo@osceola.org

• American Red Cross: Greater Orlando Chapter (Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties)

  • Phone: (407) 894-4141

• Osceola Sheriff’s Office: 2586 Partin Settlement Rd Kissimmee, FL 34744

  • Phone: (407) 348-2222

  • Emergency: (407) 742-5911

• Kissimmee Utility Authority

  • Phone: (407) 933-7777

• Toho Water Authority

  • Phone: (407) 944-5000

Orange County

• Orange County Emergency Management

  • (407) 836-9140

  • Dial 3-1-1

  • Email: ocoem@ocfl.net 

• American Red Cross: Greater Orlando Chapter

  • Orange, Osceola, Seminole Counties: (407) 894-4141

• Orange County Sheriff’s Office: (407) 254-7100

• Orange County Utilities: (407) 836-5515

• Orange County Water Division: (407) 254-9850

POLK COUNTY

• Polk County Emergency Management

  • Phone: (863) 298-7000  

• American Red Cross: Mid-Florida Chapter (Polk County)

  • Phone: (863) 294-5941

  • Leesburg, FL: (352) 314-0883

  • New Port Richey, FL: (727) 848-8354 

• Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) 24-Hour Phone Number

  • Phone: (877) 272-7337

• Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Numbers

  • Polk County Emergency Management: (863) 298-7000

  • Polk County EMS/Fire: (863) 519-7350 / (800) 780-5346 (toll-free)

• Salvation Army Emergency Shelter and Feeding Program Lakeland, FL: (863) 682-8179

• Polk County Utilities: (863) 298-4100

• Polk County Waste: (863) 284-4319

• Lakeland Water Utilities: (863) 834-8316

RESOURCES FOR CONSTITUENTS WITHOUT POWER

If constituents are experiencing long-term power outages, they should look into the Low-Income Home Energy Assistant Program (LIHEAP). 

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

• A list of volunteer websites are available at nvoad.org.
• Those interested in volunteering to assist in Florida, visit: volunteerflorida.org.
• Individuals looking to volunteer at shelters, should complete shelter operations training online and submit a registration form.
• Anyone looking to get involved is encouraged to volunteer with local and nationally known organizations.